Awakening
When you wake up, take a few deep breaths, stretch, and smile.
Listen to the sounds around you, feel the sensations on your skin, feel the sensations associated with your breath.
Meditate for a few minutes or longer.
Contemplate or read something about mindfulness or a spiritual pursuit contributing to inner peace.
Set an intention for the day if you are so led.
Potential Reminders:
Contemplate the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path as a guide for the day, or as a review of how these were or were not applied at the end of the day
Let peace, love, joy, kindness, gentleness, goodness, patience, self-control and faithfulness (to your path, the universe, your god, etc.) be your guide
Do mini-meditations throughout the day and incorporate mindfulness practices throughout the day- for example, at a red light or the grocery store in line, breathe in "peace to me," breathe out "peace to all,"...
Consider the totality of existence is beyond our understanding and perceptions- Good, bad, who knows?
Remember the Now is really all there is- the most important person is whomever you are with, the most important thing is whatever you are doing in the moment, the most important time is now
Be kind, to yourself and others
Potential Practices:
Metta - recite the following (or similar)(based on lovingkindness, towards yourself and others):
May I be mindful of my thoughts, words, and actions
May I cultivate goodness, kindness, peace, and joy
May I be safe and free from suffering
May all experience goodness, kindness, peace, and joy
May all be safe and free from suffering
"Serenity Prayer"
May my practice grant me
Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference.
Modified Version of the "Lord's Prayer"
If you are spiritual, perhaps consider something like the following:
A modified version of the "Lord's Prayer" (with consideration of the original Aramaic)
Divine consciousness
May our energy be in harmony
May we be nourished, in body, mind, and spirit
May we not be caught up in anger, hatred, missteps, or judgment, towards ourselves or others
May we be free from clinging and suffering
May we awaken
The Five Remembrances can be used each morning as a brief reflective practice to ground perspective and inspire wise action- these are reminders of change and impermanence:
“I am subject to aging; I will grow old,”
“I am subject to illness,”
“I am subject to death,”
“All that is dear to me and everyone I love is subject to change and loss,” and
“My actions are my only true belongings; my actions are the ground of my life”—
Read or recite them slowly, notice the felt response (urgency, gratitude, compassion, or release), let that feeling shape one clear intention for the day, and return to the remembrances when you feel reactive or distracted to restore equanimity, ethical choice, and presence.
Change it from “I” to “you” and/or “we” if it is helpful.
Non-dualistic/Taoist like Daily Mental Discipline
I am not separate from the perceptions of the universe.
Unfolding through the boundless creativity of what is, Life moves and expresses as this very presence.
May pure energy display itself naturally Through this form and within daily activity.
In the realization of non-separation, May the impulse to cause suffering fall away, Leaving only clear, unconditioned responsiveness.
May speech and behavior move in harmony, Reflecting the quiet depth of total awareness.
May benevolence and gentleness arise effortlessly, Knowing that where there is no self and other, there is no one to harm.
May pure reality Be the whole of this being.
Spirit, mind, and universe are one harmonious continuum; This body is the quiet living ground of the subtle origin.
When eating, may nourishment receive nourishment.
When sleeping, may peace rest within peace.
When working, may action arise without an actor, Flowing seamlessly as the task at hand.
In living fully, may nature be the path and the unfolding alike— Unconditioned, whole, and inherently peaceful.
